Braving Firsts: Lessons from a Year of Bold Moves and Embracing Change

In this episode, Dr. Padmanabhan reflects on a year of transformation, filled with bold steps, new experiences, and moments of growth. From starting a Locums life to navigating unfamiliar cities, living in hotels, and even dancing uninhibitedly in a crowd, it’s a journey of embracing bravery and stepping out of comfort zones.

Listeners will hear:
✨ Insights on why discomfort is the key to personal growth
✨ How small, courageous steps can lead to big transformations
✨ 3 actionable takeaways to help navigate change and uncertainty

This episode offers inspiration and practical lessons for anyone facing change or seeking the courage to take their next bold step.

Connect with Dr. Asha Padmanabhan:

🌐 Website: www.theleadershiprx.com
📝 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asha.padmanabhan.9
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asha.md/
💼 LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/ashapadmanabhan

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Transcript

0:00

This is a production

Asha: 0:11

It's not something I thought I'd ever do. Dance and shout uninhibitedly in a group of people. For most of my life, I've been the quiet, soft spoken sort who never made waves and for sure I've never danced with abandon in a crowd. I'd watch other people do it. I'd admire those who lived like the child in that gif you must have seen around, dancing uninhibitedly with the caption, dance like no one is watching. But that has never been me. Hi there and welcome to the Leadership Prescription Podcast for Women Physicians. I'm your host, Dr. Asha Padmanabhan, and I'm a Board Certified Anesthesiologist and a Master Certified Physician Coach. I coach women physicians in all skills essential to have a fulfilling career in life and in leadership skills. So there I am, an introverted, shy person who has never danced uninhibitedly in public. And here I am at a transformative four day conference. It's day one, and while everyone around me is dancing, I'm not. I am standing up, I'm moving around, and I'm looking around, and I see how deeply everyone is around me that is caught up in the mood of the moment. And then something magic happens. I start thinking of this past year, and all the things I've done. At all the times, time and time again, I've stepped outside my comfort zone. And I realize, this is such a little thing comparatively. And the next minute, I join in, and I'm dancing, and I'm screaming, and I'm yelling. And it becomes another first. One more first in a year full of firsts. It's so funny how life pushes us into moments that reveal Just how brave we can be, even when we don't feel brave at all. That dance, surrounded by strangers, wasn't just about letting loose. It was about embracing who I've become. I've become a person who's willing to step out of her comfort zone, not just metaphorically, but in every aspect of her life. This past year has been a series of firsts that tested my courage in ways I never anticipated. It's so easy to fall into a rhythm of safety and predictability, but when you step into the unknown, you discover a different kind of strength, just like I did. At the beginning of 2024, I made a huge, life changing decision. I quit my comfortable, well paid job at a hospital 10 minutes from home, a place where I had a title and a position, where I was respected and well loved. Where I had a guaranteed income and where I knew what my schedule looked like for the year. When I was on vacation, when I was at a conference, when I was supposed to work. In other words, a predictable life. And at the beginning of 2024, I left that job. Starting a locum's life wasn't something I imagined for myself. The idea of leaving behind that steady income. That familiar environment and the comforts of home was indeed very terrifying. But with that first came an opportunity to grow in ways I didn't expect. I look back now on this year and I'm amazed at all the things that have happened, that I've done, that I've seen, and I've discovered. But most importantly is that I've discovered about myself. I discovered that being the newbie in a hospital, although terrifying, was doable. I did have butterflies in my stomach my first day in that new job. Learning new names, learning the areas in the hospital. I learned that building trust with the staff, although not instant, was something I could do. That getting to know them, and them getting to know me, to like me and trust me, could and did happen over time. I had thought that it would take years for such relationships to build. And I learned that I could build these relationships in a matter of weeks. To the point that every time I went back, I was greeted with, Oh, we're so glad you're back. We like having you here. There's something about that that made me realize that this is something that I can do. And all my fears were, although they were valid, were still something that I could face and grow from. I discovered I could do other uncomfortable things too. Like the first time I rented a car by myself. That seems so small, doesn't it? But for someone who's always been part of a duo, whether with family, friends, or co workers or a spouse, taking that step alone felt like I was rewriting the rules of who I am. And I could tell you stories of that first couple of weeks of renting a car, driving it around, forgetting to lock the car. Forgetting how to turn it on, forgetting where the windshield wipers were, all so many little things. And I could write stories about all of that. But I discovered I could do it. Or that first time I drove in a completely unfamiliar city, navigating winding roads with only my GPS and my intuition. But every mile, my confidence increased. And that was another first, that I could now imagine going and exploring places on my own. And then, living in hotels for weeks at a time, making those sterile, impersonal spaces feel like home. I learned to create comfort wherever I landed, to make peace with solitude, and to find joy in the temporary. And I learned how to make new friends, in new places. All these moments taught me lessons I never saw coming and I wanted to share them with you in hopes that they inspire you to embrace your own journey of bravery and change. There are so many other firsts I have seen or done this year. This also happens to be the year I ascended to the presidency of the Florida Society of Anesthesiologists, a position I've been working forward to in the last eight years. A position that comes with its own challenges and its own growth and learning. And on the fun side, this is also the year I scheduled and arranged an international trip with my best friends from high school. One that hopefully becomes an annual one. So many new firsts and so much learning and change. So here are three things I have learned in this year of firsts. That I hope will encourage you to find your own first and to not be so afraid of them. Number one, every small step counts. Bravery doesn't always look like a grand gesture. Sometimes it's renting that car. Sometimes it's making that call, or sometimes it's saying yes to a new opportunity, whether it is small or big. Each small decision builds momentum for the bigger ones, Number two, discomfort is the birthplace of growth. Whether it's dancing in a crowd or walking into a new job, leaning into discomfort shows me just how capable I am, and that is something it can show you. The things that feel unfamiliar today will feel like second nature tomorrow, and I can attest to that. Now when I go into these same hospitals, they don't feel new and unfamiliar anymore. Number three, You don't have to have it all figured out. I didn't start this year knowing how I would navigate these changes. I didn't start this year knowing what my schedule would be beyond three months. Not knowing where the time off would come. How much income I would make. But I've learned that figuring it out as you go is also part of the magic. So trust yourself to handle what comes next. You're more resourceful than you realize. So, if there's one thing I hope you take away from this episode, it's this. Bravery isn't about being fearless, it's about taking the step anyway, even when fear is tagging along. this year I've learned to redefine who I am and what I'm capable of, one first at a time. My hope for you is that you'll give yourself permission to do the same, especially in the new year coming up. So what's one thing you've been holding back on? One first you've been too hesitant to try. Maybe today is the day you take that step. And who knows, maybe you'll find yourself dancing in the crowd too. See you next time.

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